Kilimanjaro Lemosho trek and safari in Tanzania

Planet

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is an incredibly sensitive environment and we strive to run each of our treks to leave virtually no footprint on the mountain through a variety of initiatives. The same applies to the safari Parks we visit on our safari extension:- Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Manyara

Our pre-travel literature briefs customers to reduce their personal impact by cutting back on plastic waste. Customers are advised to take refillable water bottles, preferably ones with an inbuilt filter. Water sourced from mountain streams is boiled and filtered to them be poured into reusable bottles.Any toiletries such as soap should be biodegradeable if possible and wet wipes are NOT recommended.

Any waste generated on the mountain by our customers or crew is collected and carried off the mountain for either recyling or proper disposal back in Moshi. This includes human waste which is collected in the chemical toilets that we set up at each camp.

Our trek leaders are passionate about responsible tourism and protecting the local environment. The pre-trek briefing advisers customers on best practice on the mountain covering issues such as rubbish disposal, bush stop etiquette, sticking to established paths and protecting the fragile flora and fauna.

Part of the cost of our vacation goes towards the various National Park fees. Part of these fees go towards the upkeep of the parks and conservation work. Other revenue assists the economy of Tanzania as a whole.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

We have chosen to work with a local family-run operator in Moshi. The owner himself was originally a porter, then a trekking guide, and the welfare of the many staff employed as porters, cooks, guides and office staff is very important to him. Appropriate clothing, tents and sleeping bags are provided for all our staff on the mountain and clients are actively encouraged to interact with all staff generating a real feeling of teamwork and friendship as we strive towards the summit.

In assisting thousands of our customers over more than 20 years on their Kilimanjaro treks, the local porters and mountain guides employed have secured a stable income. Their job is undoubtedly tough and so we strive to ensure that the conditions that they work in are as fair as possible. As a company we support the International Porters Protection Group - which safeguards the interests and welfare of porters against unscrupulous companies, and follow Tourism Concern's guidelines on porter welfare. Packs are carefully weighed before the mountain ascent to ensure that the porters are carrying a fair weight - a weight within the guidelines set by the national park.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.